Poke Check

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Synopsis

One scorching summer in each other’s arms could never be enough.
Stanislav “Stan” Lyamin is happy playing for the Railers. The towering goalie is well-loved, respected, and making a home for himself even though that home only contains him, his cat, and his growing Pokemon trading card collection. Stan prefers it that way.
He’d given his heart to a man in a secret affair, and that man walked away, leaving Stan shattered. Now Erik is back in his life, and he has the same tumultuous effect he had on Stan’s heart as before. This time it’s not just a kissable mouth and sweet blond curls that Erik has brought to Harrisburg, there’s a soon-to-be ex-wife and a precious baby.

Despite the vow Stan made to hate Erik forever, he’s now finding it harder and harder to turn away.

Erik Gunnarsson’s dream had always been to play in the NHL, he just never imagined he’d land a contract with the Railers. Who would have thought that fate would put him on the same team as Stanislav Lyamin; the man whose heart he’d callously broken?

Secrets and lies had defined their summer relationship, and the choice that Erik made to end it all haunts him still. In the middle of a messy divorce and with a baby in tow, Erik finds himself back in Stan’s life. Now all he has to do is be the best dad he can be, prove to the team that he deserves the chance to stay on the roster and try his hardest to get Stan to forgive him.

Is it possible to persuade a man who hates you to give love a second chance?

I love Stan!

I am loving this series so much. Poke Check is about Stan, the Russian goalie for the Harrisburg Railers and Erik, a new Railer called up from the AHL. The story is told in first person alternating between Stan and Erik.
Poke Check has one of my favorite tropes – second chance romance. Erik and Stan met at a summer conditioning camp and the sparks flew between them. Erik is from Sweden but speaks good English; Stan not so much. The language barrier didn't keep them from falling in love and Stan was heartbroken when Erik walked away. Erik had a very good reason for leaving Stan but he didn't tell him or get in touch with him. Now he has to face Stan every day on the ice.
I just loved the chemistry between these two. And I love Stan's lack of command of the English language.
Stan has provided quite a bit of comic relief throughout the other books in the series. It was great to finally find out what drives him. Poke Check is a very tender love story – about family as well as lovers. Stan's love of his mother and sisters is so touching and once he meets Erik's baby, Noah, his heart melted and so did mine. When Stan is reunited with his mother and then she meets Noah – it was another mult-hankie moment for me.
This is such a great series and I'm very happy that there are more books coming.
An advanced copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***